Milk Lake & Five-Color Lake

牛奶海与五色海

Two glacial lakes above 4,500 m at the foot of Jambeyang. Milk Lake, with its milky-white shores and deep blue centre, is the highlight and finish of the long Yading hike.

Milk Lake (Ewong Tso) and Five-Colour Lake (Danzeng Tso) sit in cirques on the north side of Jambeyang, at altitudes of 4,600 m and 4,700 m respectively. Starting from Luorong Pasture (4,150 m), the walk follows a boardwalk and rocky mountain path for about 5 km, climbing roughly 450 m to reach Milk Lake. The round trip takes about 4 to 6 hours. It is the classic high-altitude hike in Daocheng Yading. Milk Lake gets its name from the milky-white glacial sediment along its shore. Its centre is blue-green, with glaciers and snow walls of Jambeyang behind it. About 20 minutes further up is Five-Colour Lake, whose water shows several colours in the sunlight. According to Tibetan legend, one can see past and future lives in its surface. From the shore of Five-Colour Lake, you can look down on Milk Lake and the distant mountains at the same time.

The first half of the trail is relatively gentle. The last 1.5 km, a steep slope, is the hardest part, and many people experience noticeable altitude sickness there. Walk slowly, take plenty of breaks, and eat sugary snacks and drink water along the way. The scenic area has previously offered horse rides on some sections (about ¥300, subject to policy and season), but in recent years hiking has been the main option, and sedan chair carriers are also available. You must leave Luorong Pasture before 1 p.m., or you will not make it back before the last sightseeing bus.

Note: This hike reaches 4,700 m, so people with heart disease or high blood pressure should not attempt it. The weather can change extremely quickly, so bring waterproof and warm clothing. Do not enter the lake or throw stones, and respect the sacred lakes.

Milk Lake & Five-Color Lake

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